So, last night I went to see Roger Waters at the PNC Arts Center. What an amazing show! Now, the tickets said the show was to start at 8:00 PM "sharp", but that didn't happen. It was probably just a ploy to try and get everyone into the venue early.
Well, it sort-of worked, because the lines to get into the Arts Center were long! Two huge lines extended well out into the great lawn (the great, soggy lawn). It was cool watching the bats fly around in the night sky. They basically checked everyone who came into the venue: nothing like a good pat-down before a show! Had we more time, I would have gone through the security check more than once!
And we had the coolest bus driver EVER! She was funny, and made the short ride from the parking lot to the venue enjoyable. We even got to yell out to the people who didn't feel like standing in line for the bus, as we passed them walking to the Venue. I guess they forgot about the steep incline on the way up to the Arts Center. Suckers!
So the show started at around 8:15/8:20, and went until just after 11:00. The first set was a nice collection of Pink Floyd classics, such as "Happiest Days of our Lives" (The show opener), "Wish You Were Here", "Mother", "Sheep", "Shine on you Crazy Diamond", "The Final Cut", and more. There was a floating spaceman during one of the songs, and a giant inflatable pig that the roadies ran out into the audience during another. Friends reported that the "big pig" was actually set free outside, and could be seen floating away into the night, shilloetted by the nearly-full moon.
The band took a 15 minute break, and then came out and performed "Dark Side of the Moon" in its entirety. It was practically note-for-note off the album. Amazing doesn't even begin to cover it. For many of us, it was almost religious.
The show also had many other significant undertones. It was Roger Water's birthday, and many fans had "Happy Birthday Roger" signs, banners, and even a spinning L.E.D. sign. Speaking of signs, a fan had brought a "Floyd St" street sign, complete with sign post, and was running around the parking lot with it. I wonder if they let him bring it in? The show was also shortly after the passing of former Pink Floyd front man Syd Barret. Many of the visuals used on the giant projection screen contained images of Syd. Syd, we all miss you: Rest In Peace.
Roger got a bit political on us, with his song "Beirut". Roger recants his adventure hitch-hiking after his car broke down, and how a stranger took him in, and extended his hospitality. Pictures of the Berlin Wall, along with dictators, murders, and President Bush (hmmmmm) were displayed on the screen.
Amazing lights, pyro, surround sound, and even bubbles (yes bubbles) helped to make the show. Roger had 11 ("yes, this one goes to 'levin") musicians on stage, and they helped to authentically reproduce the classic Pink Floyd sound.
What an awesome night. I count myself very lucky to have seen not only Roger Waters last night, but David Gilmour earlier this year. Between the two shows, I got to see Pink Floyd.
It was very interesting that BOTH Roger and David encoured with "Comfortably Numb".